Hurricane Humberto likely to weaken soon

Hurricane Humberto is likely to begin weakening soon far out over the Atlantic.

MIAMI — Hurricane Humberto is likely to begin weakening soon far out over the Atlantic.

The Category 1 hurricane has maximum sustained winds Thursday evening near 85 mph (140 kph), with weakening forecast over the next two days.

Humberto is centered about 595 miles (958 kilometers) northwest of the Cape Verde Islands and is moving north near 14 mph (22 kph).

Meanwhile, Gabrielle is a tropical storm again but is expected to weaken as it moves away from Bermuda after drenching the British territory. The storm's maximum sustained winds are near 40 mph (64 kph) and the U.S. National Hurricane Center says Gabrielle is expected to weaken on Friday.

The storm is centered about 230 miles northwest of Bermuda and is moving north near 8 mph (13 kph).

Off the eastern coast of Mexico a tropical depression has formed and threatens to bring heavy rains and major flooding to parts of the region.

The National Hurricane Center said Thursday night that the depression is about 165 miles (266 kilometers) east-northeast of Veracruz, Mexico. It has maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (56 kph) and is moving westward at 5 mph (8 kph).

A tropical storm warning is in effect for eastern Mexico from Coatzacoalcos to Barra de Nautla.

Forecasters said a slow and erratic motion is expected over the far-southern Gulf of Mexico over the coming days.

Some strengthening is expected over the next two days, with the system likely becoming a tropical storm on Friday.

The depression is expected to dump 10 to 15 inches of rain over a large part of eastern Mexico, with some mountainous areas getting as much as 25 inches. Forecasters say these rains are likely to result in life-threatening flash floods and mud slides.